Big finish sends Kibugu flying on home soil

Teenage amateur Njoroge Kibugu delighted the home crowds at the 2022 Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa as he finished round two birdie-eagle to put himself right in contention heading into the weekend.

The 18-year-old is a member at Muthaiga Golf Club and he made all that local knowledge count as a bogey-free 66 moved him to six under on home soil.

He is making just his second DP World Tour appearance after missing the cut at last season's Kenya Savannah Classic supported by Absa but he will be playing the weekend this time around and is certain to take plenty of support with him.

"I feel it," he said. "It's everywhere, it's amazing, I appreciate it.

"I'm grateful for one and I'm ready to go out there and fight. Just enjoying the moment, being in the moment and staying in the moment."

After firing a 70 on day one, Kibugu - whose older brother Mutahi turned professional last year - birdied the third and ninth on Friday before his big finish catapulted him up the leaderboard.

"The birdie on 17, I hit a two iron and wedged it close to five feet," he said.

"On 18, I was kind of going for a draw off the flag just to stay out of the danger, it went straight and ended up to a foot."